As my whole life has been transformed and happified by Christian Science, I should like through my testimony to express, at least in part, my gratitude for the many blessings which I have received.
At the age of fourteen a condition of blood poisoning led to a serious illness, which affected my heart. My father was not in favor of Christian Science, and in his deep concern and anxiety he called for medical aid; but my mother turned to Christian Science for support for her thought and mine. I knew little of the teachings of Christian Science at that time, but I was constantly strengthened and supported by the uplifting thought and loving help of the practitioner, and by the encouragement and devotion of my mother. My progress seemed slow, but on several occasions the doctor in attendance was astonished that various discordant conditions, which he had foreseen as the result of certain medical laws, were altogether avoided. At the beginning of the illness he had said that if the condition proved to be blood poisoning, which he later declared to be the case, there would be but a few weeks for me to live.
When, after several months, I was able to be about again, and the doctors were dismissed, they stated that I would probably be unable to return to school in the fall, and left many precautionary instructions, such as that I must altogether avoid strenuous exercise, be careful of high altitudes, and so on,—in short, that I must lead the life of a semi-invalid. Contrary to their fears, however, I was able to attend school the following year without missing one day. I was able to take part in all athletic sports, including mountain climbing, and experienced no difficulty at high altitudes.
